Thursday, April 25, 2013

‘Lost in the Seven Worlds’ {book review}

Even as a booklover, there are a few genres I seldom read, but when someone I know publishes their work I jump at the chance to experience it. What kind of friend doesn’t want to read the work of someone they know? Not a friend I want to have.

Reading “Lost in the Seven Worlds” by Petronela Ungureanu, the blogger behind Why I Wake Up Every Day, may have changed my mind about not reading short stories. The first time I read a post on Petronela’s blog I knew her to be a superb writer with a creative flair, a vivid imagination and the talent to keep her readers engaged. Those same characteristics are evident in her short story.

Description from Amazon:

When a young woman finds herself captive in another world, she makes the mistake of falling for one of the disgraced beings. In the name of love, she is confronted with a most disturbing demand and faces a crucial decision. Will she remain lost in the Seven Worlds, or will she accept the challenge of a love beyond mortality?

As I read the story I hungered to understand the world this young woman had been ferreted away to and the people who were responsible. I wanted to know about the different alien races and what would happen in the end… The end. That’s the one thing that got under my skin is the fact that there wasn’t an end, but there was. The author left it open because she must have a sequel in the works. I’m sure she must, if she doesn’t then she should. (Do you like that not-so-subtle hint?)

In fact, I was reading some of the Amazon reviews and other readers feel the same way. It’s the type of story ending that either makes you concoct your own conclusion and leaves you surmising until you forget about it or stalk the author until they write the next book. (I’ll take stalking for $100, Alex.)

Because Petronela weaves her words in a way that causes images to dance through your mind and takes you on a journey to a world she created, you only want to hear her voice. Her voice is what introduced you to this other world, left you longing to visit and learn more. It’s a world of beauty, mystery and magic – the very words I would use to describe Petronela.

Here’s a sampling of her word power:

“It is a majestic immense floating city surrounded by lakes and waterfalls. Its architecture, or shall I man it… its poetic masonry is a most unusual and sublime blend of stately domes, lacy arcades, never-ending colonnades that seem to provide a most glorious support to the sky and slivery white walls.”

I don’t know about you, but I can envision the place she describes. The vividness her words cause makes me think I can touch one of those domes and slide my hands along the walls. A place I would steal away to for a vacation.

More about the author:

She’s a fantasy writer and a journalist living in Romania. She enjoys walking barefoot in the grass, reading Jane Austen and being surrounded by her cats. “When the time feels right, she mysteriously withdraws in her favorite corner where she concocts fantastical stories about elves, fairies, gnomes and other wondrous creatures.” – from her Amazon page.

I recommend this quick read – I didn’t put it down ‘til I finished – to anyone who appreciates this genre. For a first-time author, “Lost in the Seven Worlds” is a treat to read and I await with a ready Kindle for her next book or short story.

In addition to her blog, you can catch up with Petronela on either of her Facebook pages: personal or blog, and on Goodreads. Tell her I sent you.

Disclosure: I purchased the Kindle version of this short story and decided to share it via review. As always, all opinions included are my own and were in no way influenced by anyone else. Click for my ever-so-interesting full disclosure policy.